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Iraqi, Coalition Forces Detain Six, Destroy Weapons Caches

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, April 23, 2008  Iraqi and coalition forces detained six suspected criminals and destroyed multiple weapons caches today near Khan Bani Saad, an area allegedly used as a manufacturing and storage location for homemade bombs, north of Baghdad.

Acting on previously gathered intelligence, Iraqi and coalition forces moved into the area and immediately stopped a suspected criminal’s vehicle trying to escape.

They discovered numerous weapons and detained three individuals. One of those detained allegedly received weapons training in Iran and was involved in numerous attacks on coalition forces and Iraqi security forces personnel, officials said.

The combined forces detained three more suspects during building searches at two other locations. Additionally, they discovered more weapons caches that included various munitions, assault rifles, and other weapons and materials to create bombs. All weapons materials were destroyed.

-- Unmanned aerial vehicle operators from the 4th Infantry Division’s 3rd Brigade Combat Team spotted two individuals with a mortar tube. They loaded the weapon into a vehicle and drove off in northeastern Baghdad. Shortly after their departure, the UAV fired one Hellfire missile, killing two criminals and destroying one vehicle.

-- In eastern Baghdad, criminals attacked soldiers from the 4th Infantry Division’s 3rd Brigade Combat Team with a homemade bomb while the soldiers were conducting a mounted patrol. The patrol was then attacked with rocket-propelled grenades. The soldiers identified the criminals’ location and engaged them with small-arms fire, killing six.

-– Elements from 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, detained a suspected criminal in the Abu Ghraib area, west of Baghdad. This suspect is believed to be involved with attacks on Iraqi army and coalition forces and the making of homemade bombs.

-– Soldiers from the 4th Infantry Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team discovered and seized four Iranian-made 107 mm rockets while patrolling their sector in the Rashid district of southern Baghdad.

In Iraq operations April 21:

-– Soldiers from 1st Squadron, 33rd Cavalry Regiment, discovered a weapons cache containing rocket-propelled grenade rounds, an AK-47 assault rifle and a box of PKC rounds in Yusifiyah. The cache was destroyed by an explosive team.

-– A member of the local “Sons of Iraq” citizen security group led Multinational Division Center soldiers of 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, to a weapons cache containing two armor-piercing explosively formed projectiles near Jisr Diyala. One of the EFPs had a makeshift stand for adjusting elevation. Both were turned over to an explosives team.